Reaction products of pyridine and allergenic extracts of plants of the genus rhus



Patented Dec. 21 i948 ALLERGENIC EXTRACTS OF PLANTS OF THE GENUS RHUS Margaret B. Strauss, New York, N Y

No Drawing. Application-March 31, 1945,

Serial No. 586,026

This invention. relates generally to processes for treating plant parts to derive new physiologically active compounds therefrom of a nature wholly different from naturally-occurring substances; in a more particular sense, the invention is concerned with novel antigenic compositions and with processes whereby such compositions can be obtained.

It has long been known that certain plants can provide sources of principles, the exact nature and chemical composition of which are not now fully understood, that are characterized by high degrees of physiological activity and that are capable of producing certain forms of allergy syndrome, for example asthma, hay fever and dermatitis. These principles which are commonly known as allergens can be classified in two groups based upon a syndrome manifested by persons affected by the allergen; a first group composed of proteinaceous allergens that produce hay fever or asthma upon inhalation; and a second group of nonproteinaceous allergens that produce a dermatitis upon contact with a hypersensitive individual. chemical differences between these two classes of allergens is reflected not only in the differences of syndrome produced but also is manifested in the wholly different methods by which the allergens are obtained from the plants.

It has also been known for a considerable period that various methods of processing plants can yield materials more or less useful in the preparation of medicaments which can be employed in diagnosis, mitigation and treatment of such. allergy syndromes.

The present invention relates to improvements in methods in obtaining the second class above mentioned, namely, the non-proteinaceous allergens which produce the characteristic dermatitis upon contact with hypersensitive persons.

In the past various methods of processing these plants to obtain the principles therefrom have been utilized but the so-called extracts thus obtained have possessed characteristics that materially and disadvantageously limited their field of utility, particularly in instances where it was necessary or desirable to treat the affected person by injections. These disadvantages have in .at least a large measure been due to the vehicle (alcohol and/or oil solution) used to maintain 13 Claims. (Cl.-260-'236.5)

The fundamental the principle in condition for injection, 1. e., the

"liquidcomponent of the extract was irritant or toxic when administered by injection. iAlcoholyextracts, which usually are prepared by extracting the selected plant parts with alcohol (95% or higher) in addition to possessing the disadvantages above mentioned, are further undesirable because of the tendency of the principle when in this solution to loose its biological activity, especially following dilution with Water as is necessary before injection, with the result that administration of an accurately controlled dosage is made very difficult.

No attempt heretofore to provide an aqueous extract has succeeded because the presence of moisture in the extract caused rapid deterioration of the physiologically active component.

Oil extracts are usually prepared by extracting the selected plant parts with ether, toluene, or the like to obtain a solution of the active resinous material, filtering, evaporating the solvent and dissolving the residue in an oil, for instance corn oil; olive oil, sesame oil or peanut oil. Such oil extracts are not favorably regarded by clinicians or patients because of the difiiculty of cleaning the equipment used when administering same and also because it is necessary to administer 'oil extracts intramuscularly instead of permitting more subcutaneous administration.

Moreover instance are known in which further problems have arisen due to the treated person's sensitivity to protein components of the oil vehicle, particularly when peanut oil is used.

- In accordance with the present invention, there is now provided a non-proteinaceous allergenic substance having full physiological potency which requires no special care in handling or administration, which can be administered subcutaneously as desired without the painful effects produced by alcohol or oil extracts, and which maintains its full physiological activity even after storage for substantial periods of time. One of the more important characteristics of the novel products obtained according to this invention is that they can be diluted with water or saline solution (for preparation of isotonic solutions) and when thus diluted full physiological activity is maintained without perceptible deterioration when stored under usual conditions for reasonable periods of time.

liquor. y .can e purified bywas'hing with water. -If pretive compound, and separating such extract from the extracted plant parts. Further contemplated within this invention is the preparation of a physiologically active allergenic substance by treatment of samextract with alum'or the like.

To illustrate the application of the principles of this invention, the process will be described.

in general terms as applied to treatment of plants such as poison ivy, poison oakjarid poisbn sumac.

Parts of the selected plants are'treatedwith pyridine or quinoline at room temperature or at elevated temperatures and with suitable agitationh The period of treatment is dependent upon the temperature used and the degree of-"cdnceritration of allergen desired in the product; in'general, longer periods of treatment and higher temperatures yield higher concentrations of the allergenic substances. The-plant parts used can be in freshforfdsicated' coridition. This treat- 'ment"yieldsf a solution-"containing i the reaction -groduct ofthe' yridine'Y-or quinoline'with the physiologicallyactive allergenic-principle of the plant." Thissolution is-usuallyof a dark green The novel substances according to nvent on are obtained from the pyridine or 'qumoline solution so 'pre'pared by treating 'said alfirnbr'thelike} In accordance with practice of the processlof this invention, the product is aflocculent'pr'ecipitate composed of minute particles thatreadilyisettles from the supernatant v This product is removedby filtration and frred the'fproduct can; be separated by centriiuging the'mixture and decanting the supernatant liquor. This productis substantially insoluble in water,exhibits'liigh"antigenicactivity and can be y suspended i in'. isotonic. saline solution-for a n'linistr'atiodby"injection.' Its allergenicractiv'ity "does 'n'ot'" materially diminish upon storage "atrjcomteinperature.

Y Thisfnovel allergenic product is hon-toxicand non irritating as isfshownrby a series of tests con- ;diictedfas follows. Thirty-two individuals .(rand'o'ir'ily selected) ,l' having noiprevious history of hypersensitivity of thetypmanifested bycontact dermatitis. were administered subcutaneousinjc't ion's of this DIcSductin-various dilutions without any detectable reactions,'-local or systemic.

This novel allergenic product is not an irritant, per se'," as is shown by the consistently negative patch"tsts, performed in- 'the usual manner,- on thirty-seven individuals (randomly selected) having no'previous history of .l'iypersensitivity of the type'rnanifes'ted by contact dermatitis.-

The product containsthe-spe'cific active allergenic fraction fronithe plant parts as is shown by consistentlypo'sitive patcli'tests, performed in-the usual manner; on sixty-five individuals with previous histories of contact dermatitisof the poison ivy type.

This novel antigenic product 'contains'thespe- I c'ific'active allergenic fraction from the plant parts as is shown by'the ability'of said'product'to sensitize (for the first time) guinea pigs'by a singleintraperitoneal'injection. Their sensitization was shown bythefpres'ence of a'positi've patch 4 test consisting of erythema and vesicles, when the patch test with this antigenic product was placed three to four weeks after the sensitizing dose.

The stability of the novel antigenic product according to this invention was established by comparative tests upon (1) a freshly prepared product from a pyridine solution that had been stored at room temperature for one year; (2) a final allergenic product that had been stored in aqueous saline solution for a period of one year; and (3) as a control, a freshly prepared final allergenic product. Patch testing of thesethree products (showed no'idetectable difference in alle'rg'enic activity when applied to a substantial number of hypersensitive individuals.

The immunological importance of this product wq e ri jwn .by therelief obtained from phylactic i -treatment.

Fbrty-seven sensitive individuals "from a group of fifty, exhibiting characteristic tQthis-invention.

dermatitisobtained relief after the first to sixth subcutaneous injection of the product according he immunological importance of this novel product in-prophylactic treatment is shown by the results obtained when thirty-seven individuals with previous histories of contact dermatitis due to poison ivylor. the like, treated withf-grad'ually increased concentrations off this. novel-antigenic product, were freed "of. symptoms. during the"following season with: the exception "of a few individuals!who experienced only a .rnild atta'ckfof dermatitis.

The following 'exarnples illu'strate methods .'of carrying out the present invention, but it is to 'be understood thatthese.examplesarefgiven byway ofLillustration' and not by" Way of limitation,

v ment-r161 s'Ab'outelfl grarns bf driedp'oison ivy leaves are 'ground" and. extracted -with:'approximately ml. -oi'opyridine iobr 124 'hours at room temperature. "When the pyridine is initially added .to the ground leaves minute bubbles ofwgas are "formed on the surface-of theisolid 'material; apparently due to-a reaction between the-pyridine and the leaves, and Isubseq uently 'escape from the liquidto'the atmosphere. -=Therextracted=-lea-fmeal is-theri removed "and T the "liquid thus obtained isv a solution of .the reaction; product 'of pyridine with? the allergenic component present' in the :leaves. It is sterile, deep greeh in color and is used'as a 'stocksolution -rro'mzwhichthe fihalproduct is made. Although the exactrnature -of:=;this'-Iproduct is not :known :it is believed? to' be ra't'quaterriaryzzpyridinium: salt. About' io ml of the stock smution and about' loo lrnlf -of water are mixed and about' 36 mlf 'of a 0Z25 *N-isul'phu'ric" acid= solution"containing aboutaiper "ce'nt b'y Weight cf 'potas um aiumis slowly-added and with continuous iagit'ation. The 3 reaction product is obtained as -a volurninous finely" divi-Eled}dp grelfi pleipltalieE vvhichafter standin g -a't about 0 s remdved -ffornthe supernatant liquid and with *isotonicf-saline solution contamingasmair-a A olirlt of plienolr This' product" then fs spendedin sotonic saline solution "-f cr es can a drmni strancn by inj ec'tion.

sulfuric acid solution containing about. 2per. cent; by weight ofpotassium alum, as in Example-I This mixture is further processed as in Example I and yields a product identical as that there described, and when suspended in isotonic saline solution is useful for administration'by injection.

Example III About grams of freshly harvestedpoison ivy leaves are ground and are extracted with approximately 50 ml. of pyridine at room temperature for 24 hours. The mixture is filtered. About 50 ml. of this filtrate is mixed with 100 ml. 30f water and the mixture is treated with about 36 m1. of 0.25 N

sulfuric acidcontaining about 2 per cent by Weight potassium alum, as in Example II. This mixture is further processed as in Example II and yields aproduct identical as that there described, and when suspended in isotonic saline solution is useful for administration by injection.

Example IV The procedure described in Example II is repeated with the exception that freshly harvested poison oak leaves are substituted for the freshly harvested poison ivy leaves that are employed. The final product obtained is similar in appearance to that described in Example II, and when suspended in isotonic saline. solution is useful for administration by injection.

Example VI The procedure described in Example III is repeated with the exception that freshly harvested poison oak leaves are substituted for the freshly harvested poison ivy leaves that are employed. The final product obtained is similar in appearance to that described in Example III, and when suspended in isotonic saline solution is useful for administration by injection.

Example VII The procedure described in Example I is repeated with the exception that dried poison sumac leaves are substituted for the dried poison ivy leaves that are employed. The final product obtained is similar in appearance to that described in Example I, and when suspended in isotonic saline solution is useful for administration by injection.

Example VIII The procedure described in Example II is repeated with the exception that freshly harvested poison sumac leaves are substituted for the freshly harvested poison ivy leaves that are employed.

The final product obtained is similar in appearance to that described in Example II, and when suspended in isotonic solution is useful for administration by injection.

Example IX I r The procedure described in Example III is repeated with the exception that freshly harvested poison sumac leaves are substituted for the freshly harvested poison ivy leaves that are employed.

6'. The final ro uct tain d s ar-in a near-' ance to that described in Example III, and when; suspended in isotonic saline solution is useful for administration by injection.

I V ExampleX About 5 grams of dried or freshly harvested poison ivy leaves are ground and extracted with about ml. of pyridine in a Soxhlet extractor for about 1 /2 hours. By this time the washings with pyridine are colorless. The extract so obtained is further treated as described in Example I and the product obtained is similar to that there-in described, and when suspended in isotonic saline solution is useful for administration by injection. This procedure is also satisfactory for preparing allergenic substances from poison oak, poison sumac and primrose. 1

Example XI The procedure described in Example I is repeated with the exception that 48 ml. of a solution containing about 2 per cent by weight of potassium alum is substituted for 36 ml. of a 0.25 N sulfuric acid solution containing about 2 per cent by weight of potassium alum. The final product obtained is similar in appearance to 7 that described in Example I, and when suspended in isotonic saline solution is useful for administration by injection.

Example XII The procedure described in Example V is repeated with the exception that 48 ml. of a solution containing about 2 per cent by weight of potassium alum issubstituted for 36 ml. of 0.25'N' sulfuric acid solution containing about 2 per cent by weight of potassium alum. The final product obtained issimilar in appearance to that described in Example V, and when suspended-in isotonic saline solution is useful for administra tion by injection.

Example XIII The procedure described in Example IX is'repeated with the exception that 48 ml. of a solution containing about 2 per cent by weight of potassium alum is substituted for 36 ml. of 0.25 N sulfuric acid containing about 2 per cent by weight of potassium alum. The final product obtained is similar in appearance to that described in. Example IX, and when suspended in isotonic saline solution is useful for administration by injection.

- Example XIV About 10 grams of dried poison ivy leaves are ground and extracted with approximately 100 ml. of quinoline for 24 hours at room temperature. The extracted leaf meal is then removed and the liquidthus obtained is a solution of the reaction product of the quinoline with the allergenic component present in the leaves. It is sterile and'is used as a stock solution from which the final product is made. About 40 ml. of the stock solution and about 100 ml. of acetone are mixed so that a single phase is obtained after the addi-.. tionof 100 ml. of water and then about 48 ml. of a solution containing about 2 per cent by weight of potassium alum is slowly added with continu-i ous agitation.- The reaction product is obtained: as a finely divided, deep green precipitate, which after standing'at about 5 C. is removed from the supernatant liquid and washed with isotonic saline solution containing a small amount of phenol. This product is then suspended m iso- 7' tent tsetse sers-nearer 'se" administration by iifiedtion Eltamplfe-XV About 10 grams of freshly harvested poison oak leaves are ground'and are-extracted with approximately 109 nd. of quinoline at room temperature-for 24- hours Themixture is---i iltered-.- The filtrate is mixed first "with; an equal volume ofacetone and then with a similarvolume 0f wag 'tenandthe mixture is treated with about-48 ml;

of a; solution containing about 2 per cent, :by wei ht of-- potassium alum; as in- Example 31V: This mixture-isfurther processed as-in Exarnple XIV and yields a product-identical -asthatthere described, and when suspended isotonic saline solutionis useful for administrationbyinjection.

Emample XVI The procedure: described in Example XIV is repeated With the exception that dried poison sumac leaves are substituted for the. driedpoison ivy-leaves that are employed. The final product obtained -is---sim-ilar in appearance to that describedin Example XIV, andwhen suspended in isotonic saline solution is useful for administration-by injection.

llt-willbe understood by those skilled in thear-tto which this invention pertains, that modifica tions and changes may be made in the procedure product'of pyridinewith said principle, treating the reaction product thus obtained with a sub-'- stance selected from the class consisting oi aque ous mineralacidsolution'and acidic aqueousalum solution'to cause separation of a substantially in soluble allergenic product, and recoveringssaid allergenic product. 2. The process for preparing antigenic-sub stances characterizdbystability of physiological activity upon storage, that comprises directly treating parts of plants of the genus Rhus containing a non-prot'e'inacebus physiologically active principle, with pyridine to form a reaction product of pyridine with said principle,- treating the reaction product thus obtainedwith' alum solution to cause separation of a "substantially insoluble allergenic product, a-r"1'cl rerl 1ovihg saiel' allergenfc producn I st-Inc 'p'roc'ess for I reparing antigenic" sub" stancescharacterize'd by stability ofphysiolbgieal activity upon storage; that comprises directly treatingpar t's of plants of the genus Rhus co'm tairiing' a non-proteinaceous physiologically ac tive principle, with pyridine to form are'actic in product of pyridine with said principa'h treating the "reaction product thus" obtained with alum solution under acid condition's 'to caus'e separa ti'on-of a substantially'iinsoluble allergenic prodnot, and removing said allergenic product. v

4-. The process for preparing antigenic's'ub stances-characterized by stability of-physiologicalactivity' upon' storage,- that-comprises directly at'ordinary room. temperature.

treatingipbrstn a parts eenta nfng a neng rotetn'aeeeu p ologically active" rincipw; withipyria q f r aetien'produet='ofpyn dine w'it ie; tr'atingithe rea'ction' dine with said" principle, treating the reaction product thus obtained' with alum solution underacid'conditions-to cause separation of a substan tially 'insoluble allergenic productiand removing said allergenic-product;

6 5 The processfor preparing antigenic substances characterized stability of physiologicalactivity upon storage, that comprises directly treating poison oak plant parts containing a nonproteinaceou's physiologically active principle, withpyridine to form a "reaction product of p'yri-J- dine with saidpr'inciple', treating the reaction product thus'o'btained with alum 'solution'to cause separationcf-fa substantially insoluble allergenic product, and" removing said allergenic producti" 7."Th'e processfo'r preparing antigenic sub? stances characterized by stability of physiological activity upon storage, that comprises directly treating-poison oakplant parts containing a nonproteinaceous" physiologically activer principle; withpyridine -to form a 'reactionproduc't =of pyi i dine with said principle, 'treattingflthefiactioni product thus obtained with alum" solutionnndet acid: conditions ito'"cause separation oi a substari tiallyxinsoluble' allergenic producigiand removingsaid allergenic product;

8. The process for preparing antigenic substances characterized by stability of physiological activityfuponstorage, that comprises directly tremingpoison sumac plant-parts containing a I non-.proteinaceous physiologically"active princi pie? with? pyridine t0 form areactlofiprodllct of pyridine with-said rineipiegtr eatingtne reaction pibdudt thus' obtained with al-unl'solution to cause separation of 'a substantially insoluble allergenic product, and removing said allergenic product.

9. The process for preparing antigenic substances characterized by stability of physiological activity upon storage, that comprises directly tr'eating poi'sonsumac plant parts'containing a non-proteinac'eous physiologically active "prin cip'le with pyridine' 'toform a reactionproduct of pyridine with said principle, treatingfthe reaction. product thus obtained with alum solution under" acid conditionsto cause separation of a substantially insoluble allergenic product, and removing said allergenic product;

1-0.A2n allergenic product-obtainedaby the process ot-claim-1;characterizedby retention 0f physt-i ologic'alpotency when stor-ed in' aqueous solutio'ns 1.1. An allergenic product obtained by the proc ess-ofclaim 6; characterizedbyretention ofphysiofogical' potency when stored aqueous solutions at ordinary room temperature.

12. An allergenic product obtained by the process of claim 8, characterized by retention of physiological-potency when stored in aqueous solutions at: ordinary room temperature.

"13. Anallergenic productbbtained' by theproc-i ess ot-elaim lcharacterized by retentic'rl o f p'liysl 9 10 ologicel potency when stored in aqueous solutions FOREIGN PATENTS at ordmary room temperatures.

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